Dress shirt with switchable buttons

ABSTRACT

A dress shirt with a modified button placket with switchable buttons is disclosed. The modified button placket provides a wearer with the ability to switch between “work” and “play” buttons for a different fashion look. The modified button placket includes a button-side section including a first button and a second button. The modified button placket also includes a button-hole side inner layer section and a button-hole side outer layer section. In some embodiments, the first button could be a more conservative “work shirt button” while the second button could be a trendier “social outing button.” If the wearer is going to a professional meeting, the wearer of dress shirt could fasten and expose only the work buttons to the outside audience. The play buttons would be left hidden behind both button-hole side inner layer and a button-hole side outer layer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to clothing, and in particular to dressshirts with switchable buttons.

A dress shirt includes a collar and a full-length opening with buttonson the front of the shirt. The panel of fabric in the middle section ofthe dress shirt is referred to as a placket. This section may includedouble layers of fabric that hold the buttons of a dress shirt. The mainpurpose of a placket is to support and strengthen areas within the shirtthat may be subjected to stress due to buttoning and unbuttoning.Generally, there are three types of plackets: seamless, standard, andconcealed.

Seamless plackets are also known as French plackets. This type ofplacket does not have any seaming or outlines, allowing the shirt tolook crisper and a little more formal without the extra stitching andfabric of placket. French plackets have the edge of the shirt frontfolded over, creased, and held together only by the button holes.Standard plackets are found on many office and traditional men'sbusiness shirts. The standard placket is a strip of fabric raised offthe front of a men's dress shirt with stitches down each side having anoutlined look. Concealed plackets hide the front buttons of a dressshirt. The buttons are hidden under an extra sheath of fabric over theedge of the shirt. The standard placket is popular for professionalsettings, while the seamless and concealed plackets are popular fordress shirts worn in social settings.

Although the main purpose of a placket is to support and facilitateputting on and taking off the garment, there is an emerging trend onusing plackets for style. Furthermore, while there are dress shirts foroffice environments and dress shirts for social outings, a need existsfor a dress shirt with improved features.

An object of the present invention is to provide a modified buttonplacket of a dress shirt with selectable buttons for either officeenvironments or social outings.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an article of clothing that includes amodified button placket. The modified button placket includes abutton-side section including a first button and a second button. Whenthe button-side section of the article of clothing is worn by a wearer,the first button and the second button are arranged along a verticalline that is essentially parallel to a y-axis. This y-axis is defined asthe lineation that essentially runs from the head of the wearer to thefeet of the wearer, where the first button is located closer to the headof the wearer. The modified button placket also includes a button-holeside inner layer section that includes a first hole and a second hole.When the inner layer section of the article of clothing is worn by thewearer, the first hole and the second hole are arranged along anothervertical line that is also essentially parallel to the y-axis. In thismanner, a top and bottom of the first hole and a top and bottom of thesecond hole are defined. By definition, the tops of the first and secondholes are closer to the head of the wearer, where the first hole islocated closer to the head of the wearer. The modified button placketfurther includes a button-hole side outer layer section. When the outerlayer section of the article of clothing is worn by the wearer, thesecond hole is located such that the second hole pierces through theinner layer and the outer layer section, while the first hole does notpierce through the outer layer section. By definition, when the modifiedbutton placket of the article of clothing is worn by the wearer, theinner layer section is closer to the body of the wearer than the outerlayer section. Of the modified button placket for the article ofclothing of the present invention, the center of the first button andthe center of the second button are located a maximum distance d apart,wherein d is equal to twice the length of the second hole. The secondhole is situated such that when the modified button placket of thearticle of clothing is worn by the wearer, the relative y-axis locationof the center of the first button lies within a range between therelative y-axis location of the top of the first hole and the relativey-axis location of the top of the second hole, and the relative y-axislocation of the center of the second button lies within a range betweenthe relative y-axis location of the bottom of the first hole and therelative y-axis location of the bottom of the second hole. When thefirst button is fastened through the first hole, the first button issubstantially hidden behind the outer layer section and thus essentiallynot visible when the first button is fastened. When the second button isfastened through the second hole, the second button is visible throughthe outer layer section when fastened.

The present invention provides an article of clothing with anotherembodiment of a modified button placket. In this embodiment, themodified button placket includes a button-side section that includes afirst button and a second button. When the button-side section of thearticle of clothing is worn by a wearer, the first button and the secondbutton are arranged along a vertical line that is essentially parallelto a y-axis. This y-axis is defined as the lineation that essentiallyruns from the head of the wearer to the feet of the wearer, where thefirst button is located closer to the head of the wearer. The modifiedbutton placket also includes a button-hole side inner layer section thatincludes a first hole and a second hole. When the inner layer section ofthe article of clothing is worn by the wearer, the first hole and thesecond hole are arranged along another vertical line that is alsoessentially parallel to the y-axis. In this manner, a top and a bottomof the first hole and a top and a bottom of the second hole are defined.By definition, the tops of the first and second holes are closer to thehead of the wearer, where the first hole is located closer to the headof the wearer. The modified button placket further includes abutton-hole side outer layer section. When the outer layer section ofthe article of clothing is worn by the wearer, the first hole is locatedsuch that the first hole pierces through the inner layer and the outerlayer section, while the second hole does not pierce through the outerlayer section. By definition, when the modified button placket of thearticle of clothing is worn by the wearer, the inner layer section iscloser to the body of the wearer than the outer layer section. Of themodified button placket for the article of clothing of the presentinvention, the center of the first button and the center of the secondbutton are located a maximum distance d apart, wherein d is equal totwice the length of the first hole. The first hole is situated such thatwhen the modified button placket of the article of clothing is worn bythe wearer, the relative y-axis location of the center of the firstbutton lies within a range between the relative y-axis location of thetop of the first hole and the relative y-axis location of the top of thesecond hole, and the relative y-axis location of the center of thesecond button lies within a range between the relative y-axis locationof the bottom of the first hole and the relative y-axis location of thebottom of the second hole. When the second button is fastened throughthe second hole, the second button is substantially hidden behind theouter layer section and thus essentially not visible when the secondbutton is fastened. When the first button is fastened through the firsthole, the first button is visible through the outer layer section whenfastened.

There are a number of advantages of the present invention. The use of adress shirt with a modified button placket with switchable buttonsremoves the need to change dress shirts when one transitions from aprofessional office environment to a trendy social outing setting, orvice versa. The article of clothing with a modified button placket ofthe present invention provides a wearer with the ability to switchbetween “work” and “play” buttons for a different fashion look. Examplesof various articles of clothing that could incorporate the modifiedbutton placket in accordance with the present invention include: dressshirts, coats, jackets, polo shirts, uniforms, long sleeve shirts, andblazers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a dress shirt with switchable buttons.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of the dress shirt with switchablebuttons of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates points of reference for placement of the buttons andbutton holes along the modified placket of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates another example of a dress shirt with switchablebuttons.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention. Dress shirt100 includes a modified button placket comprising button-side section110 and button-hole section 120. Button-hole section 120 furtherincludes button-hole side inner layer 210 (see FIG. 2) and button-holeside outer layer 122. Button-side section 110 has a multiple set ofdual-buttons 130A and 130B. For every dual-button set on button-sidesection 110, there corresponds a hole 140 located on button-hole section120.

In some embodiments of the present invention, dual-buttons 130A and 130Bare located such that the center of button 130A and the center of button130B are located a maximum distance d apart, where d is equal to twicethe length of hole 140. FIG. 2 illustrates a close up view of themodified button placket of the present invention. Upon closerinspection, hole 140 of FIG. 1 corresponds to hole 140A of FIG. 2. Thus,hole 140A is located on button-hole side outer layer section 122. Inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention, inner layersection 210 lies closer to the body of the wearer, and hole 140Aessentially lies on top of hole 140B so that either first button 130A orsecond button 130B can pierce through button-hole side outer layersection 122 and be visible from an outsider point of view. In someembodiments, an additional piece of fabric (not shown in FIG. 2) islocated between button-hole side inner layer 210 and button-hole sideouter layer 122 for the purpose of making the placket more stiff.

Moreover, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,hole 250 of button-hole side inner layer section 210 does not have acorresponding hole on button-hole side outer layer section 122.Therefore, when first button 130A (which may be located closer to thehead of the wearer than second button 130B) is fastened, first button130A pierces through inner layer section 210 but does not pierce throughouter layer section 122. In this manner, from an outside observer pointof view, first button 130A is essentially hidden behind outer layersection 122. As described above, the center of buttons 130A and 130B maybe arranged a maximum distance d apart, where d is equal to twice thelength of hole 140A. In the art of clothing plackets, a “hole” is asmall slit or opening deliberately made in clothing for fastening abutton. In accordance with the present invention, each button hole ofdress shirt 100 has a maximum length d/2, and each button hole of dressshirt 100 has a “top” indicating one end of the opening and a “bottom”indicating the opposite end of the opening for fastening a button. Insome embodiments, the maximum length d/2 is substantially equal to thediameter of either button 130A or button 130B. It should be appreciatedthat the diameters of button 130A and 130B could be the same ordifferent. First hole 250 has a top 252 and a bottom 254, and secondhole 140B has a top 242 and a bottom 244. It should be appreciated thatwhen dress shirt 100 is worn, top 252 and top 242 are located closer tothe head of the wearer.

FIG. 3 illustrates points of reference for placement of the buttons andbutton holes along the modified placket in accordance with the presentinvention. Dress shirt 100 includes a modified button placket comprisingbutton-side section 110 and button-hole section 120 The buttons (e.g.,130A and 130B of FIG. 1) of button-side section 110 are arranged along aline that essentially runs parallel to line 310. Line 310 in turn isessentially parallel to a y-axis. The y-axis is defined as the lineationthat essentially runs from the head of the wearer of the dress shirt(when the dress shirt is worn) to the feet of the wearer. Line 310 isprovided as a frame of reference to show how the buttons of button-sidesection 110 are arranged on the modified placket of the presentinvention. Furthermore, a multiple set of button holes (e.g., 140 ofFIG. 1) of button-hole section 120 are arranged along a line thatessentially runs parallel to line 320. Line 320 is also essentiallyparallel to the y-axis.

Referring back to FIG. 2, in one embodiment of the present invention,second hole 140B is situated such that the center of first button 130Alies within a range between the relative y-axis location of top 252 offirst hole 250 and the relative y-axis location of top 242 of secondhole 140B. Accordingly, the center of second button 130B lies within arange between the relative y-axis location of bottom 254 of first hole250 and the relative y-axis location of bottom 244 of second hole 140B.

In accordance with the modified placket of the present invention, thereexist several advantages to having two buttons that could fasten throughone button hole in a button-hole side outer layer section. For example,the modified button placket of the present invention facilitates a quicktransformation from a “work shirt” to a “play shirt” without having tochange dress shirts. In some embodiments, button 130A could be a moreconservative “work shirt button” while button 130B could be a trendier“social outing button.” If the wearer is going to a professionalmeeting, the wearer of dress shirt 100 could fasten buttons 130A ofbutton-side section 110 through hole 140B and 140A of button-holesection 120, exposing only button 130A to the outside audience. In thisembodiment, button 130B would be left unfastened and hidden behind bothbutton-hole side inner layer 210 and button-hole side outer layer 122.

Now imagine the wearer has finished the work meeting and now desires toattend a happy hour event with some friends. Instead of taking off his“work shirt” and putting on another dress shirt, the wearer decidescontinue wearing dress shirt 100 (which may appropriate for worksettings yet trendy enough for social outings), and unbuttons the topbuttons closest to his collar (in some embodiments of the presentinvention, the buttons closest the collar of the wearer comprise onebutton to one button-hole while the rest of the buttons on button-sidesection 110 comprise a multiple set of dual-buttons 130A and 130B foreach button hole 140). To “transform” dress shirt 100, the wearer thenfastens each button 130A through first hole 250, and fastens each button130B through second hole 140B and 140A, exposing only button 130B to theoutside audience. The wearer has changed the look of the dress shirt andprovides a different fashion look without the hassle of changing intoanother dress shirt. In some embodiments, in this “play shirt” mode, thewearer merely fastens 130B though second hole 140B and 140A and does notfasten each button 130A through each first hole 250. It should beappreciated that in another embodiments, button 130A is a “social outingbutton” and button 130B is a “work shirt button.” In a similar fashiondescribed above, the wearer may choose to expose either buttons 130A orbuttons 130B to an outside audience.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternate arrangement of buttons and button holesof the modified placket of the present invention. In FIG. 4, upon closerinspection, hole 140 of FIG. 1 corresponds to hole 140A of FIG. 4. Hole140A is located on button-hole side outer layer section 122. Inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention, inner layersection 210 lies closer to the body of the wearer, and hole 140Aessentially lies on top of hole 140B so that either first button 130A orsecond button 130B can pierce through button-hole side outer layersection 122 and be visible from an outsider point of view. In someembodiments, an additional piece of fabric (not shown in FIG. 4) islocated between button-hole side inner layer 210 and button-hole sideouter layer 122 for the purpose of making the placket more stiff.

Moreover, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,hole 250 (FIG. 4) of button-hole side inner layer section 210 does nothave a corresponding hole on button-hole side outer layer section 122.Therefore, when second button 130B (which may be located closer to thefeet of the wearer than first button 130A) is fastened, second button130B pierces through inner layer section 210 but does not pierce throughouter layer section 122. In this manner, from an outside observer pointof view, second button 130B is essentially hidden behind outer layersection 122. As described above, the center of buttons 130A and 130B maybe arranged a maximum distance d apart, where d is equal to twice thelength of hole 140A. In accordance with the present invention, eachbutton hole of dress shirt 100 has a maximum length d/2, and each buttonhole of dress shirt 100 has a “top” indicating one end of the openingand a “bottom” indicating the opposite end of the opening for fasteninga button. Hole 250 has a top 252 and a bottom 254, and hole 140B has atop 242 and a bottom 244. It should be appreciated that when dress shirt100 is worn, top 252 and top 242 are located closer to the head of thewearer.

In one embodiment of the present invention, hole 140B is situated suchthat the center of first button 130A lies within a range between therelative y-axis location of top 252 of hole 250 and the relative y-axislocation of top 242 of hole 140B. Accordingly, the center of secondbutton 130B lies within a range between the relative y-axis location ofbottom 254 of hole 250 and the relative y-axis location of bottom 244 ofhole 140B.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effectedwithout departing from the scope of the present invention. For instance,examples of various articles of clothing that could incorporate themodified button placket in accordance with the present inventioninclude: dress shirts, coats, jackets, polo shirts, uniforms, longsleeve shirts, and blazers. Accordingly, the foregoing description isintended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of theinvention which is set forth in the following claims.

1. An article of clothing including a modified button placket, themodified button placket comprising: a button-side section including afirst button and a second button, wherein when the button-side sectionof the article of clothing is worn by a wearer, the first button and thesecond button are arranged along a vertical line that is essentiallyparallel to a y-axis, the y-axis defined as the lineation thatessentially runs from the head of the wearer to the feet of the wearer,wherein the first button is located closer to the head of the wearer; abutton-hole side inner layer section including a first hole and a secondhole, wherein when the inner layer section of the article of clothing isworn by the wearer, the first hole and the second hole are arrangedalong another vertical line that is also essentially parallel to they-axis, thereby defining a top and a bottom of the first hole anddefining a top and a bottom of the second hole, the top of the first andsecond hole being closer to the head of the wearer, wherein the firsthole is located closer to the head of the wearer; and a button-hole sideouter layer section, wherein when the outer layer section of the articleof clothing is worn by the wearer, the second hole is located such thatthe second hole pierces through the inner layer and the outer layersection, wherein the first hole does not pierce through the outer layersection, wherein when the modified button placket of the article ofclothing is worn by the wearer, the inner layer section is closer to thebody of the wearer than the outer layer section, wherein the center ofthe first button and the center of the second button are located amaximum distance d apart, wherein d is equal to twice the length of thesecond hole, wherein the second hole is situated such that when themodified button placket of the article of clothing is worn by thewearer, the relative y-axis location of the center of the first buttonlies within a range between the relative y-axis location of the top ofthe first hole and the relative y-axis location of the top of the secondhole, and the relative y-axis location of the center of the secondbutton lies within a range between the relative y-axis location of thebottom of the first hole and the relative y-axis location of the bottomof the second hole, wherein when the first button is fastened throughthe first hole, the first button is substantially hidden behind theouter layer section and thus essentially not visible when the firstbutton is fastened, and when the second button is fastened through thesecond hole, the second button is visible through the outer layersection when fastened.
 2. The article of clothing of claim 1, whereinthe article of clothing comprises a plurality of modified buttonplackets.
 3. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein when the firstbutton is fastened through the second hole, the first button is visiblethrough the outer layer section when fastened, and the second button isnot fastened and is substantially hidden behind both the inner layersection and the outer layer section.
 4. The article of clothing of claim1, wherein the article of clothing comprises at least one of: a dressshirt, a coat, a jacket, a polo shirt, a uniform, a long sleeve shirt,and a blazer.
 5. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the firsthole has substantially the same length of the second hole.
 6. Thearticle of clothing of claim 1, wherein the first button and the secondbutton are essentially the same size.
 7. The article of clothing ofclaim 1, wherein the first hole has a length less than the length of thesecond hole.
 8. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the firsthole has a length greater than the length of the second hole.
 9. Thearticle of clothing of claim 1, wherein the first button has a diameterless than the diameter of the second button.
 10. The article of clothingof claim 1, wherein the first button has a diameter greater than thediameter of the second button.
 11. An article of clothing including amodified button placket, the modified button placket comprising: abutton-side section including a first button and a second button,wherein when the button-side section of the article of clothing is wornby a wearer, the first button and the second button are arranged along avertical line that is essentially parallel to a y-axis, the y-axisdefined as the lineation that essentially runs from the head of thewearer to the feet of the wearer, wherein the first button is locatedcloser to the head of the wearer; a button-hole side inner layer sectionincluding a first hole and a second hole, wherein when the inner layersection of the article of clothing is worn by the wearer, the first holeand the second hole are arranged along another vertical line that isalso essentially parallel to the y-axis, thereby defining a top and abottom of the first hole and defining a top and a bottom of the secondhole, the top of the first and second hole being closer to the head ofthe wearer, wherein the first hole is located closer to the head of thewearer; and a button-hole side outer layer section, wherein when theouter layer section of the article of clothing is worn by the wearer,the first hole is located such that the first hole pierces through theinner layer and the outer layer section, wherein the second hole doesnot pierce through the outer layer section, wherein when the modifiedbutton placket of the article of clothing is worn by the wearer, theinner layer section is closer to the body of the wearer than the outerlayer section, wherein the center of the first button and the center ofthe second button are located a maximum distance d apart, wherein d isequal to twice the length of the first hole, wherein the first hole issituated such that when the modified button placket of the article ofclothing is worn by the wearer, the relative y-axis location of thecenter of the first button lies within a range between the relativey-axis location of the top of the first hole and the relative y-axislocation of the top of the second hole, and the relative y-axis locationof the center of the second button lies within a range between therelative y-axis location of the bottom of the first hole and therelative y-axis location of the bottom of the second hole, wherein whenthe second button is fastened through the second hole, the second buttonis substantially hidden behind the outer layer section and thusessentially not visible when the second button is fastened, and when thefirst button is fastened through the first hole, the first button isvisible through the outer layer section when fastened.
 12. The articleof clothing of claim 11, wherein the article of clothing comprises aplurality of modified button plackets.
 13. The article of clothing ofclaim 11, wherein when the second button is fastened through the firsthole, the second button is visible through the outer layer section whenfastened, and the first button is not fastened and is substantiallyhidden behind both the inner layer section and the outer layer section.14. The article of clothing of claim 11, wherein the article of clothingcomprises at least one of: a dress shirt, a coat, a jacket, a poloshirt, a uniform, a long sleeve shirt, and a blazer.
 15. The article ofclothing of claim 11, wherein the first hole has substantially the samelength of the second hole.
 16. The article of clothing of claim 11,wherein the first button and the second button are essentially the samesize.
 17. The article of clothing of claim 11, wherein the first holehas a length less than the length of the second hole.
 18. The article ofclothing of claim 11, wherein the first hole has a length greater thanthe length of the second hole.
 19. The article of clothing of claim 11,wherein the first button has a diameter less than the diameter of thesecond button.
 20. The article of clothing of claim 11, wherein thefirst button has a diameter greater than the diameter of the secondbutton.